Meet Vikki Gladney

We had the good fortune of connecting with Vikki Gladney and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Vikki, how does your business help the community?
Safe Space Through Fitness creates opportunities for individuals to improve their physical, mental, and emotional well-being through trauma-informed fitness and wellness programming. We serve people from diverse backgrounds, including those navigating life transitions, recovery, financial hardship, trauma, or simply seeking a supportive community focused on health and healing.

Our programs remove barriers to wellness by offering accessible fitness experiences, education, resources, and meaningful connections that help participants build confidence, improve their health, and develop sustainable habits. Beyond exercise, we are creating spaces where people feel safe, seen, supported, and empowered to take positive steps toward a healthier future.

By helping individuals move, heal, and grow, we strengthen not only the lives of those we serve but also the overall health and well-being of our community.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Safe Space Through Fitness was born from my personal journey of healing, recovery, and rebuilding. Long before I became a fitness professional, I experienced domestic violence, addiction, homelessness, and many of the challenges that leave people feeling disconnected from themselves and their communities. Along with spiritual, emotional, and mental wellbeing, physical fitness became one of the tools that helped me reclaim my life. It has unlocked new levels of personal growth and peace within myself.

What sets Safe Space Through Fitness apart is that we understand wellness from both sides. We are not simply focused on exercise, weight loss, or appearance. We recognize that many people are carrying trauma, grief, stress, disappointment, and life experiences that affect how they show up in their health journey. Our approach is rooted in creating environments where people feel safe enough to begin again, supported enough to keep going, and empowered enough to believe that change is possible.

I am most proud of the fact that we are building something bigger than fitness. We are creating community. Whether through free fitness programs, wellness education, partnerships, or support-based initiatives, our mission is to help people move, heal, and grow. Every person who walks through our doors or participates in our programs is treated with dignity, compassion, and respect.

The road to building this organization has not been easy. Like many entrepreneurs and nonprofit founders, I have faced financial challenges, setbacks, disappointments, and moments where the vision seemed bigger than the resources available. There are times when I need learn new skills, navigate unfamiliar systems, advocate for myself, and remain committed even when progress felt slow. I overcome those challenges through faith, persistence, community support, and a willingness to keep learning and adapting.

One of the greatest lessons I have learned is that purpose is often built through perseverance. The very experiences I once wished I could erase became the foundation for the work I do today. I’ve also learned that meaningful change happens brick by brick. Lasting impact is rarely created overnight; it is built through consistency, relationships, trust, and showing up day after day.

What I want the world to know about me and this brand is that Safe Space Through Fitness is proof that people can heal, grow, and create something meaningful from their pain. Our story is not about perfection; it is about possibility. We believe that wellness should be accessible, supportive, and inclusive, and that every person deserves the opportunity to improve their quality of life regardless of where they are starting. If our story inspires anything, I hope it reminds people that their setbacks do not have to define them, and that healing and transformation are always possible.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
If a friend came to Indianapolis for a week, I’d want them to experience the city through the things that matter most to me: wellness, community, small businesses, creative spaces, fashion, and meaningful connections.

We’d definitely spend some time at Natural Measures Cycling and Safe Space Through Fitness because those spaces represent so much of my journey and purpose. We’d walk the Monon Trail, visit Newfields, Fountain Square, The Children’s Museum, the Madame Walker Legacy Center, and spend time exploring some of the city’s other cultured and diverse landmarks, museums, and public spaces.

For food, I’d introduce them to a few local favorites, including The Cheesecake Lady Indy, while also sharing some of the healthy places and wellness-centered choices that fit my lifestyle.
I am a part of several advocacy and service based organizations, who have some amazing events. So our time together may include community-based experiences, conversation, and connection.

Most importantly, I’d introduce them to some of the incredible people who make Indianapolis special. The entrepreneurs, community leaders, nonprofit partners, and everyday people who are quietly doing meaningful work to make our city better. In my opinion, people are the best part of Indianapolis, and they are what I would be most excited to share.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I would dedicate my shoutout to my daughters and grandchildren. Like many families, our story has been filled with both beautiful moments and difficult seasons. There has been love, joy, growth, disappointment, healing, and yes, some brokenness along the way. But through it all, they have been one of my greatest sources of purpose.

My daughters have taught me lessons that no book, mentor, or classroom ever could. They have challenged me, stretched me, humbled me, and given me countless opportunities to grow as a woman, mother, and leader. Even in the hardest moments, they have helped shape my perspective and deepen my compassion for others.

And then there are my grandchildren. They remind me that every generation deserves a chance to experience something better than the one before it. They are a daily reminder of why I continue to do this work, why I believe in healing, and why I am committed to creating spaces where people feel safe, supported, and empowered.

The truth is, everything I do through Safe Space Through Fitness is rooted in a desire to leave a legacy of wellness, resilience, and hope. My family may not be perfect, and our journey certainly hasn’t been perfect, but they have been some of my greatest teachers. They have given my life meaning beyond personal success and have inspired me to keep moving forward, even when the path has been difficult.

For that, they deserve a great deal of credit in my story.

Website: https://SafeSpaceThroughFitness.org

Instagram: @gladneys_fitgirrl ; @nmcycling @safespace_sstf

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vikkigladney?utm_source=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=member_ios

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1D7QFGpCHY/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Youtube: https://youtube.com/@naturalmeasurescycling9122?si=qrON14aEqiO7Etai

Image Credits
Darvin Bibbs
Shot by Rod
Abdul Shaheed
Ralph Vandele